Gaslight Anthem Channel Springsteen at Radio City Music Hall

Bruce Springsteen is a timeless songwriter and star, but a few years ago, the indie world underwent a serious Springsteen crush, with every band from the Killers to the Hold Steady to the Arcade Fire borrowing elements from the Boss’ sound and style. No band, though, was more influenced by Bruce than Jersey’s own Gaslight Anthem, who at points actually sound like the E Street Tribute Band. But to leave it at that is to be reductive, and to dismiss the Gaslight Anthem is a huge mistake: Brian Fallon and Co. craft some of the catchiest, sharpest, most engaging and heartfelt music in America right now. Along with the homage paid to their home state’s favorite son, Gaslight have tones of Social Distortion, the Clash, Jawbreaker and Against Me!, among others. Their 2010 release, the perfectly titled American Slang, is essential, as are each of the two Gaslight Anthem LPs (and one EP) that preceded it, but as great as their studio material is, their sound is best suited to the stage, where they can really explode, Jersey-style.

FacebookTwitterE-mail Last week, I started writing my monthly “Pirate Guide”—wherein I offer brief reviews of a handful of new albums—and I wound up instead penning one insanely long review of one new album. I promised, though, to return this week with [...]